THE £5 billion turnover Lookers Group has held its flagship annual conference to Belfast for the first time, bringing 700 senior delegates and helping boost the city's business tourism take.
The ICC in Belfast was selected as this year’s location, given the huge contribution its Northern Ireland operation Charles Hurst has made to the wider Lookers Group since it was acquired in 1996.
The conference gave Lookers colleagues the opportunity to network and share best practice, as well as reflect on the successes of the previous year.
Colin McNab, operations director of Charles Hurst, said: “Our city has flourished into a premier conference location and we are incredibly proud to be this year’s host. There's been nothing but positive feedback on the venue and Belfast as a destination.”
Lookers chief executive Andy Bruce and chief operating officer Nigel McMinn used their presentations to highlight the group’s ambition to become a truly diverse and inclusive employer and retailer.
With this year’s event themed around the 'We are Lookers' and 'Lookers is for Everyone' slogans, conference attendees were reminded that the group has been named in the Sunday Times 25 Big Best Companies to Work for in the UK 2019, as well as a 'Top Employer' by the Top Employers Institute for the third year in a row.
Mr Bruce said: “The Lookers conference is very much the highlight of our calendar and a fantastic way to stop and take stock of the progress we have made over the last 12 months. This year we chose to look at the many multi-faceted contributions made by our talented and dedicated people, right across the group.”
Heike O’Leary, group marketing director, added: “Belfast has been a fantastic location and very gracious host. The fully integrated tourism service provided to us by Visit Belfast, the Hastings group, the ICC and a number of catering and event partners, was nothing but outstanding.”
